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The secret to unlocking Britain’s clean energy future might be found in giant floating wind farms.
These enormous floating structures can reach up to 240 metres (787ft) in height – around the same size as a skyscraper.
And experts predict they could make up 10 per cent of the UK’s wind farms by 2030.
However, building an enormous tower designed to sit in high winds poses some significant engineering issues.
From ‘spars’ that bob like fishing lures to cutting-edge hybrid platforms, engineers have created hundreds of different designs for these clean-energy giants.
Six innovative designs for floating wind farms
1. Spar
A single, cylindrical counterweight which extends up to 100m below the surface.
2. Barge
A wide, shallow floating platform.
3. Tension leg …